Garment finishing apparatus



Nov. 27, 1956 F. G. HoovER ETAL 2,772,039

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1955 H me w 0 n V .0C ww.. MHHm SP SG.E SP E Ew LKY R RNR PR MMM mM CFH Y B 0o Nov. 27, 1956 F. G. HOOVER ETAL 2,772,039

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 4, '1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHARLES H. FREE FRANK G. HOOVER By HARRY E. McCOLAUGH United States Patent O l GARMENT rnsisrmqo APPARATUS Frank G. Hoover and Harry E. McColaugh, Escondido, and Charles H. Free, Pasadena, Calif.

Application March 4, 195s, serial No. 492,074

3 Claims. (c1. 223-73) The present invention relates generally to dry cleaning of garments and more particularly to a garment finishing apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide garment finishing apparatus on which garments can be processed in the upright position in which they are normally worn, this being the ideal or optimum position since the finished garments then retain their correct shape or, if the garments have become misshapen, the use of the instant apparams tends to correct this by blocking the garments back into form. An ancillary object is to provide a machine which will finish garments such as trousers and skirts so that they will hang straight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment finishing apparatus in which the supporting stand also serves as the main supply conduit for steam and hot air used in the process.

Another object of this invention is to provide a finisher upon which it is extremely easy to place garments in position for processing, thus saving time and labor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment finishing apparatus which is particularly suitable for garments such as trousers and skirts and which has an adjustable waist portion to accommodate many sizes of garments.

Another object of this invention is to provide a finisher with a waist portion having means for gentle expansion thus preventing shrinkage of the garment during processing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment finishing apparatus having easily operated pleat pressers mounted thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment finishing apparatus having spring clips for initially retaining a garment, thus leaving the operators hands free for zipping, buttoning and adjusting the garment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment finishing apparatus having means for preventing the accumulation of condensation therein which would otherwise adversely affect the drying stage of the process.

Finally it is an object to provide a garment finishing apparatus of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and generally convenient to operate, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in View, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described -in the specication, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawings, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof with the pleat pressers imposition.

2,772,039 Fatented Nov. 27, 1956 Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the structure shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 0 10 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the structural features as shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a base 10 on which is mounted a hollow, upright pillar 12 having a forwardly extending top portion 14 at the upper end thereof, said top portion including a downwardly turned forward end 16.A Fixed to and suspended beneath the end 16 is the garment holder assembly 18 comprising a fixed plate 20 on which are mounted opposed side forms 22. These side forms 22 are externally arcuate in horizontal cross section and are mounted for sliding movement, as hereinafter described more fully, toward and away from the fixed plate 2li. Extending downwardly from the fixed plate 20 are leg elements 24 which conduct steam and hot air to garment portions, such as the legs of trousers, being processed.

The base l() is a hollow casing of suitable construction and contains a blower 26 4together with the necessary piping, valves and related equipment used in conventional garment finishing machines. The arrangement and function of the steam and air supply equipment is wellknown to those versed in the art and need not be described in detail, the present invention being primarily concerned with and related to the upright disposition and as well as the particular structure of the garment holder assembly. Extending from the base 10 are foot control pedals 2S and 3i) for control of steam and air, respectively. r[he pillar l2 as shown is rectangular in cross section and may lbe constructed of sheet material welded together, although preformed pipe of any suitable cross section may also be used.

The fixed plate 2G has a central opening 32 corresponding to the opening of the end 16, so that steam or air from the pillar 12 can pass directly into the garment holder. Each side form 22 comprises a generally semicircular plate 34 having a pair of spaced, parallel guide bars 36 integral therewith and extending from the flat or inner side thereof. The guide bars 36 straddle the opening 32 and are slidably retained in guide rails 38 fixed beneath the fixed plate 20, so that the side forms are laterally slidable on said fixed plate. Movement of the side forms 22 is accomplished by a fluid operated cylinder 40, or the like, having actuating rods 42 which are connected to the plates 34 Vby 'brackets as in Fig. 4. Secured to the arcuate edge of each plate 34 is a downwardly extending form panel 46 tapering toward the lower end thereof. The form panels 46 are of perforated sheet material as shown, or may be made from expanded metal lath for simplicity, said form panels being exteriorly covered by a cloth pad 48, or the like, tied or otherwise secured thereto. It should be understood that means other than a fluid operated cylinder may be used to :control the movement of the side forms 22.

Fixed to the upper surface of each plate 34 adjacent its outer edge is an upright post 50 to which is attached a spring clip 52. The spring clip 52 is intermediately pivoted on a bolt 54 while the upper end is held on an adjustment screw 56V said spring clip being biased outwardly by a compression spring 58, as shown in Fig. 10.

Y 62 comprising a presser panel 64 tapered toward its lower end and arcuately shaped to fit closely against the sur- Y face of the padded form panel 46. The presser panel 64 is made from perforated sheet material or expanded metal lath and 'is' covered by a pad 66. The presser v panel 64 -is reinforced by a'longitudinal spine 68 and is mounted on a toggle 70 of conventional design. YVThis toggle 76 comprises an actuating handle 72 pivotally mounted on a bracket 74 and a pressure bar 76 also piv- 1 for iinishing. The side forms 22 are retracted initially otally attached to said bracket.Y The actuating handle 72 Yand pressure bar 76 are coupled by a toggle link 7S, the

Structure and function of'such-a mechanism being well Y known to those versed in the art.V The pressure barV 76 extends longitudinally with the presser panel 64"and is terminally secured to the spine 68 by a bolt Sti on which is a spring 82 Vto bias said pressure bar away from the presser panel as shown in Figs. 7-9. Adjacent the upper end ofthe presser panel 64- is fixed a yoke V84 which straddles the pressurebar 76, a screw 86 being inserted through said yoke and bearing against the pressure bar to adjust the alignment Vofthe presser panel relative thereto. The bracket 74 has a tubular portion88 which ts vover an upstanding post 90 xed to the upper surface K of the plate 34.

The leg elements 24 each comprise a downwardly exing pipe 92 andV back through the return pipe 96 from a supply pipe 9S and through a condenser 160. The heating pipe 92 issenclosed in a perforated jacket 102 which Y is sealed thereto at both ends. Within the jacket 102 is Y, a perforatedsteam delivery pipe 104 having a closed lowerV end. The jacket 162 is enclosed by la cover 106 the clips 52, as indicated at 124 in l0, so thatY the trousers are held in place. The operators hands are thus free to adjust and fasten the trousers in place VVcorrectly to facilitate placement ofthe trousers and are expanded, after the waistband is fastened, Yby means of the foot pedal 114. The regulator valve 118 is, of course, adjusted so that the expansion of the side formsV 22 is sufficient to hold the waist band of the trousers under tension without strain. lt should be noted that in the upright position the trousers hang in the natural position as worn, thus all creases and folds appear exactly as required Vin the finished garment. lt has been found that this vertical position enables the operator to process the garment more efficiently and neatly than is possible with the horizontal type machines normally used.V When the trousers are in place the steam isY turned on and issues Vfrom the delivery pipes 104 into the jackets 102, the steam thenY passing through the covers 106 into the bag 168. Steam is also supplied through the pillar 12 itself, Vwhich is a hollow conduit as well as Va support-for, the apparatus, the steam entering the bag VltlSthrough the opening 32 in the plate 20. The bag 108 is thus lledV with steam and of suitable materialwhich allows passageV of the steam therethrough while preventing the issuance of direct jets from the perforations, as shown in Fig. 6.

The leg elements 24 are enclosed in an outer bag 10S having bifurcated leg portions V110. This bag 108 Vis shaped in the general manner of a pair of trousers and the upper end or waist portion thereof is attached to the Vj plate 20 and plates 34 by tying or other suitable methods.

The bag 168 has a certainamount of fullness to allow for expansion and contraction of they side forms 22 and vis made ofy semi-impervious material which allows slow leakage of steam or air therefrom.

Movement'of the side forms 22 1s governed by arcuate control of the air supply to the cylinder 40. The air p supply hoses 110 to this cylinder'fit)V are Vconnected to a control unit 112 having footy pedals 114 and 116, one of said pedals controlling expansion and the other coatrolling retraction. The air supply to the control unit 112 passes through a regulator valve 11S-byV which the air Vof such mechanisms being well known.

'To prevent soiling of garments jon the lower parts of the apparatus, a forwardly and laterally extending guard Y120 is secured to the pillar 12 slightly above the base 10.V This guard V120Vmay be made of wire mesh or ex- *Y panded metal lath andis tted withta peripheral bumper strip 122 of rubber, plastic, or the like.

'The operation of the device is as follows:

' The garment to be finished, such as a pair of trousers,

is lifted upwardly overV the garment holder assembly 1S so that (the leg elementsV 24 enter the ylegs of the trousers. Y The'waist band portion of the trousers are inserted under becomes inated to lill the trousers out to their full shape, the steam' then gradually penetrating Vthe bag 108 and softening the materialof the trousers, so that wrinkles are removed under the tension caused by the'expanded bag. When the processing is satisfactorily completed,

the operator turns off the steam and turns on the hot air which quickly dries the garment, stillin the Vexpanded 1 position.

The pleats usually incorporated into the upper frontal portion of trousers are neatly finished byV means of the pleat pressers 62. When the pleats have Vbeen adjusted Vby the operator, the pleat pressers 62 are swung Ydown and lockedy in place by the toggles 70, so clamping the pleated'portion'of the trousers irrnly against the padded Vform panels 46. Steam is then Vapplied to set the pleats,

VlnishingY machine Vis the accumulation of condensationrinY jacket 1632 ,is constantly heated. The steam from the delivery pipes-1G74 is thus maintained at vaporization temperature and does not condense in the bottom. ofV the' jacketsy 162. A small amount of condensation in `the .heating pipes V92 is unavoidable and this'condensate .isYV

retained .in the traps 94. TheseY traps, however, are in a closedcircuit and the Ycondensate is not open to the in- Y, Y

terior -of the bag 168, so Vthat the humidity therein is unaffected. i

After the linishing operationfis completed, the pleat Y pressers 62 are raised and the side forms 22 are retracted slightly to facilitate removal of the garment, the Y guard 129 preventing the garment lfrom vbeing soiled on Y' the oor as it is lowered from the holder assemblyv 18. Y'

Theoperation of this invention will beclearly com-` prehended from'a consideration of the foregoing description ofthe mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings andthe above recited objects. It

will be obvious that all said objectsV are amply achieved j by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

lt is understood that minor variation from thefoi-rns of the invention disclosed herein may be made-without del. parture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and

that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrativerrather than limiting. f

Hot air is Ynext applied to complete the pleat- We claim:

l. A garment finishing apparatus comprising: a base; an upright hollow pillar fixed on said base; said pillar having a laterally extending upper portion; a garment holder assembly suspended from said portion; said holder assembly including a fixed plate mounted yon said portion; guide rails secured beneath said xed plate normal to said upper portion; a .pair of side plates having spaced extended guide bars slidably engageable in said rails; a downwardly extending, rigid side form panel iixed to each of said side plates; said side form panels bein-g perforated and shaped to engage in the lwaistband .portion of a garment; porous covers secured lto said form panels; and means for laterally adjusting the spacing of said form panels; spring Iclips mounted on each of said side plates and extending downwardly over said Iform panels to engage and .retain a garment thereon; a rigid pleat presser pivotally mounted on each of said side plates to swing downwardly against the surfaces of said side form panels; said pleat pressers being perforated and shaped to t closely the surface of said form panels; and porous covers secured on said pleat pressers; a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said pleat pressers to lock the same in place against said form panels; a pair of downwardly extending leg elements secured to said xed plate; and means for conducting uds through said leg elements.

2. A garment finishing apparatus comprising: a base; an upright hollow pillar fixed on said base; said pillar having a laterally extending upper portion; a gan-ment holder assembly suspended 4from said portion; said holder assembly including a xed plate mounted on said portion; guide rails secured beneath said xed plate normal to said upper portion; a pair of side plates having spaced extended guide bars slidably engageable in said rails; a downwardly extending, rigid side form panel xed to each of said side plates; said side form panels being perforated and shaped to engage in the waistband portion of a garment; porous covers secured to said form panels; and means for laterally adjusting the spacing of said form panels; spring clips mounted on each of said side plates and extending downwardly over said form panels to engage and retain a garment thereon; a rigid pleat presser pivotally mounted on each of said side plates to swing downwardly against the surfaces of said side form panels; said pleat pressers being perforated and shaped to fit closely the surface of said form panels; and porous covers secured on said pleat pressers; a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said pleat pressers to lock the same .in place against said form panels; a pair of downwardly extending leg elements secured to said fixed plate; said leg elements each comprising an imperforate uid conducting pipe; a perforated uid delivery pipe generally parallel thereto; a perforated jacket enclosing' said conducting pipe and said delivery pipe; and a porous cover surrounding said jacket.

3. A garment finishing apparatus comprising: `a base; an upright hollow pillar xed on said base; said pillar having a laterally extending upper portion; a Igarment holder assembly suspended from said portion; said holder assembly including a fixed plate mounted on said portion; guide rails secured beneath said fixed plate normal to said upper portion; a pair of side plates having spaced extended guide bars slidably engageable in said rails; a downwardly extending, rigid side form panel fixed t0 each of said side plates; said side form panels being perforated and shaped to engage in the waistband portion of a garment; porous covers secured to said form panels; and means for laterally adjusting the spacing of said form panels; spring clips mounted on each of said side plates and extending downwardly over said form panels to engage and retain a garment thereon; a rigid pleat presser pivotally mounted on each of said side plates -to swing downwardly against the surfaces of said side form panels; said pleat pressers being perforated and shaped to t closely the surface of said form panels; and porous covers secured on said pleat pressers; a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said plate pressers to lock lthe same in place against said form panels; a pair of downwardly extending leg elements secured to said xed plate; said leg elements each comprising an imperforate uid conducting pipe; a perforated fluid delivery pipe generally parallel thereto; a perforated jacket enclosing said conducting pipe and said delivery pipe; and a porous cover surrounding said jacket.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,484 Bowen Oct. 7, 1947 2,486,486 Lauzon Nov. l, 1949 2,521,297 Littell Sept. 5, 1950 2,529,899 Bayler Nov. 14, 1950 2,669,374 Jones Feb. 16, 1954 2,723,785 Moore Nov. 15, 1955 

